Transcript Chapter 9 Interest Groups

Chapter 9
Interest Groups
Power and Influence
Goals & Objectives
1. Interest groups influence on policy.
2. Role of interest groups in politics.
3. Interest groups and public affairs.
4. Disproportionate influence.
5. Types of interest groups.
6. Propaganda and public policy.
7. Lobbyists techniques and influence.
Roles of Interest Groups
 To Make or Influence Public Policy (Congress,
Presidency, Bureaucracy)
 Gun Control: NRA v. Handgun Inc.
 Abortion: Right to Life v. Pro Choice
 War: Doves v. Hawks
 Taxes: Taxpayers vs. Non-taxpayers
Competing Interest Groups
NRA
Handgun Control Inc.
The Constitution Says?
 1st Amendment:
 Right to Assemble
 Right to Speech
 Right to Petition
 Without this right, what will happen?
“Where the body is, there will the
vultures be gathered”
 Body: Government’s Purse:
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Beach Insurance
Social Security
Seat Belt Laws
Drugs and Alcohol (ABC)
Welfare, Food Stamps, Housing, etc…
Subsidies to Business
Vultures & Interest Groups
Interest Groups: Good or
Bad…..you decide!
 James Madison: the dangers of factions. Read pg. 238
 “adverse to the rights of other citizens”
 Explain?
Functions of Interest Groups:
 MADD…Who? Why?
 Sierra Club…Who? Why?
 ACLU…Who? Why?
 Southern Poverty Law Center…Who?
 NRA…Who? Why?
 “to raise awareness or propaganda”
Global Warming Interest
Groups
Functions of Interest Groups
1. Stimulate interest in public affairs.
2. Represent members attitudes and beliefs.
3. Organize and provide information
4. Vehicles for political participation.
5. “Watchdog” function on politicians and institutions of
government.
Criticism of Interest Groups
They decide “who gets:
 WHAT?
 HOW?
 HOW MUCH?
 Madison, Washington, Jefferson warned of the dangers of
factions.
Lobby Criticism
Criticisms
1. Influence far out of proportion to their actual size and
membership. Not serving the interest of the public
good or the inherent rights of the individual.
2. Group names are misleading in characterization.
3. Groups often do not represent the membership they
claim to represent.
4. Groups use bribery, threats, property damage, and
slander/libel.
Business Interest Groups
 Chamber of Commerce
 AFL-CIO
 U.S. Brewers Ass.
 Fraternal Order of Police
 Am. Banker’s Ass.
 Am. Farm Bureau
 Am. Trucker’s Ass.
 Nat’l Farmers Union
 Am. Restaurant Ass.
 Cattlemen’s Beef Ass.
American Banker’s
Association Influence
Professional Interest Groups
 NEA
 ABA
 AMA
 Am. Society of Civil Engineers
Education Interest Groups
Agricultural Groups
1. Farm Bureau
2. National Farmers Union
3. The Grange
4. National Association of Wheat Growers
5. American Meat Institute
6. Cattlemen’s Beef Association
7. National Cotton Council
Farm Subsidies
Subsidies do what to farm
prices?
Subsidies do what to poor
foreign farmers?
Political Interest Groups
Radicals and Reactionaries
 ACLU v ACRU
 PRO CHOICE v PRO LIFE
 HANDGUN CONTROL v NRA
 Nat’l Wildlife Federation
 Audubon Society
 Friends of the Earth (elf…Terrorism)
Due Process Interest Groups
Pro-Life 5th Amend.
Pro-Choice 14th Amend
Cause Groups
1. ACLU
2. ACRU
3. League of Women Voters
4. Sierra Club
5. Audubon Society
6. Right-to Life
7. NRA
ACLU & 14th Amendment
Welfare Promotion Groups
1. American Legion
2. Veterans of Foreign Wars
3. AARP
4. NAACP
5. National Urban League
6. Mexican American Legal Defense Fund
7. National Association of Arab Ameicans
Wounded Warrior Project
Religious Groups
1. National Catholic Welfare Council
2. American Jewish Congress
3. Anti-Defamation League
4. Christian Coalition
Public-Interest Groups
1. Common Cause
2. Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen
3. League of Women Voters
4. NRA
5. ACRU
PROPAGANDA
 Does not use objective logic. Begins with a conclusion and
creates evidence
1. Name Calling
2. Card-Stacking
3. Glittering Generalities
4. Symbols
5. Bandwagon Approach
6. Plain Folks Approach
Play on Words?!
 Define: Fair to whom? The interest group? The
individual? The public good?
 Define: Just and impartial.
 Terms with absolute definitions.
 Which is valid? How do you prove validity in our
government institution?
 Would you rather have someone treat you with fairness or
with equality? Explain.
Lobbyists
 Political Action Committees (PAC’s)
 Money channeled to a political party to a particular
candidate for election or reelection purposes.
 Good or Bad? Develop an argument based upon the
Constitution!
Survivor…..Yes the television
show.
 What happens first?
 Who becomes the leader?
 Who is eliminated first?
 Who is eliminated second?
 What tactics are used to gain power?
 Who wins? Who loses?
 Interest Groups use the same tactics as the game
show and they are equally effective.